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| Q |
What is the best material to
use for our label nameplate or overlay? |
| A |
A decision about "best
material" depends on the
application. We recommend that you contact our design and
engineering staff in order to determine the best material for your
situation. Our staff can guide you toward a decision or we can
make a recommendation for you to consider. For example, if you are applying a
label to an aluminum part, we would typically suggest a 10mil velvet
polycarbonate printed sub-surface with a 3M #467 adhesive. |
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| Q |
What is the best printing
method for our parts? |
| A |
TechniPrint offers a wide
range of screen printing, pad printing, and laser etching capabilities.
Our design and engineering team can help you determine the best method for
your application. While most printers are comfortable only with
printing on flat surfaces, at TechniPrint we often print on curved plastic
and metal panels as well as parts that have raised or recessed areas near
the graphics. |
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| Q |
What are "permanent"
labels and nameplates? |
| A |
Any label or nameplate that
is intended to last as long as the equipment it is attached to is
considered "permanent". Examples include manufacturer
identification, panels that contain serial numbers or product data, safety
and warning labels as well as usage instructions. |
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| Q |
How long can I expect
TechniPrint's
labels, nameplates, and overlays to last? |
| A |
The labels we produce are of the highest quality, however, the life expectancy of a
label is impacted by environmental conditions such as indoor or outdoor use, the
type of adhesive and base material used, as well as the ink and laminate. We can build your
product to exceed manufacturers specifications and
provide you and your customers with years of durable use in the harshest conditions. |
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| Q |
Will TechniPrint's label or overlay
adhere to a textured surface? |
| A |
In most cases, yes. Depending on the application,
the surface material, texture, and surface
tension need to be considered. For example, on an extremely textured surface we recommend
3M's #468 adhesive that acts to fill the "hills and valleys". Again, we recommend that you contact our design
and engineering staff to work with you toward the best solution. |
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| Q |
Can these labels and
overlays be bent or
wrapped around irregular surfaces? |
| A |
Yes, if the proper materials
are used. Vinyl materials lend themselves
well to being bent or wrapped around irregular surfaces. Polyesters and
polycarbonate materials have an original shape "memory" and will often release
from angled surfaces over a period of time. TechniPrint's design and engineering team can help you
determine the best materials to use for your application. |
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| Q |
Are TechniPrint's products
and inks built to withstand solvents and oils? |
| A |
In addition to the protection
provided by a top laminate, a textured polyester base material or hard coated polycarbonate will also withstand solvents, oils,
and a variety of industrial chemicals. Metal nameplates can
incorporate the use of two-part epoxy inks that are highly resistant to
abrasion, oils, and solvents. Laser etching also provides highly
durable graphics. |
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| Q |
When do I need a top laminate
on my label? |
| A |
If you would like to extend
the life of your label, a top laminate is a good choice.
Typical laminates provide UV, solvent, and abrasion resistance. There are several types of polyester based top laminate
materials that can be used. Our design and engineering staff will be happy to
make a recommendation. |
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| Q |
Does TechniPrint have
materials that will adhere to high and low energy surfaces? |
| A |
At TechniPrint we have
extensive experience in this area. In addition to "off the shelf" products, we
provide proprietary materials that are made to adhere to such products as HDPE (high
density polyethene) surfaces. A wide range of adhesive
products can be customized for labels and nameplates and the
surfaces they need to adhere to. |
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| Q |
What temperature extremes will
TechniPrint's products withstand? |
| A |
We can provide labels and
nameplates that
will withstand up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit as well as materials that can
retain their adhesive properties in sub-zero conditions. |
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| Q |
How do I know TechniPrint's
materials and / or printing methods meet or exceed the blueprint
specifications? |
| A |
We are frequently asked if we
can meet the specifications on a customer's blueprint. Although we
can, we often
discover that a customer's blueprint is "dated" or does not reflect an
awareness of current materials or technology advances. TechniPrint's
design and engineering team will evaluate your blueprint
specifications and make recommendations on the best possible
materials and processes. |
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| Q |
Can TechniPrint accurately
reproduce our artwork? |
| A |
Yes. Our design staff can
reproduce your artwork to your exact specifications. In order to do
this we prefer
that our customers to provide us with a vectorized file (Adobe
Illustrator, EPS, or Acrobat PDF) so that we may have the best possible
rendering for image and color accuracy. |
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| Q |
What is the best type of
electronic file (digital image) to send TechniPrint? |
| A |
Ideally, we prefer that our customers to provide us with a vectorized
file such as Adobe Illustrator, EPS, or Acrobat PDF. File formats
such as TIFF, BMP, or JPG are acceptable for on-screen viewing but do not
yield optimal results for printing. If you do not have an image in
one of the digital formats we recommend, we also have the capability to
import other file types (such as those from CAD programs) or to
scan your image and recreate it for your approval. |
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| Q |
How can I get the most
cost effective pricing on my project? |
| A |
Although price is not the
only factor in producing a quality and cost effective product, we strive
to find the most economical solutions for our customers. In addition
to recommending the most efficient combination of materials and processes,
we will work with you to consolidate your orders and estimated annual
usage (EAU). A good EAU plan can allow us to lock in the lowest
possible materials pricing. |
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| Q |
Can TechniPrint handle our
drop shipments or special packing requirements? |
| A |
TechniPrint's shipping
department is very experienced in shipping orders to single and multiple
addresses, blind shipping to clients, and providing protective
packaging that is customized to your needs. We also have extensive
experience in handling international shipments including customs
declarations and tariffs. |
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| Q |
Can I set up my project on a release schedule and is there a cost difference to do
this? |
| A |
TechniPrint often works with
our customers on a release schedule basis. A typical release
schedule is 90 days between first order and second release.
Additional or multi-release schedules may result in a small "upcharge" for
packaging, shipping, and handling. Contact us to discuss
your specific release schedule needs. |
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Common
Questions About Printing Techniques, Materials, and Processes
